SECRET UK EYES A
practicality and feasibility, rather than of an obligation agreed formally between HMG and HKG.
8. Mr Bowen briefed the HKSC on the short paper that had been prepared on the future of the Garrison, for which Ministerial approval was being sought prior to its proposals being put to the Governor, with a view to securing his broad agreement to the profile of the final withdrawal, including the funding implications.
9. Mention was made of the request to HQBF HK to consider, on a contingency or fall-back basis in extremis, savings measures that might be taken if the DCA issue was not resolved. Mr Bowen concluded that a situation in which HMG decides the future of the Garrison, but in which HKG is very involved in its funding, might necessarily result in MOD being forced to pay more than its fair share, or by the Garrison reducing much more quickly than at present planned. The way ahead on the very difficult issue should become clearer during the coming months.
10. Finally, Mr Bowen reminded the HKSC that the Nationality Act, with its implications for LEP retention, remained a live issue. It would come to the fore again with the announcement of the 2nd tranche of passport allocations in summer
1993.
ITEM 5 MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
11. The Chairman proposed that the Minutes of the HKSC held on 10 September 1992 be approved. The Minutes were duly passed as an accurate record of that meeting.
ITEM 6 MATTERS ARISING
12. 'Stronger for Longer'. CBF summarised the demise of the concept of 'stronger for longer', as set out in the 1991 Review, by explaining the changed security and financial situation that now obtained. The concept had been overtaken by events and, whilst sound in the aftermath Tiananmen Square 1989, was now unsupportable operationally or financially.
13. LEP.
of
ACOS J1/J4 HQBF HK summarised the forms of employment and the roles of the LEP in the Garrison: emphasising their vital role and the need to replace them in the event of their premature or mass departure from Garrison employ. He identified a rising trend of LEP departures and attributed this to the passport issue, the effect of the LEP operating with the ASTF (which duty brought RN LEP into direct contact with crinimal gangs from time to time), and (possibly)
4 OF 10 SECRET UK EYES A
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